PURE Summer Research Programme, Sabancı University

What this is

PURE is Sabancı University's undergraduate research programme: seven weeks in Istanbul working inside a research group rather than sitting in lectures. Participants are attached to a project and expected to contribute to it.

Seven weeks is long for a summer programme, and that length is the point — it is enough time to do real work rather than to observe someone else's.

Who it is for

Currently enrolled undergraduates who have completed at least one semester and hold a valid university GPA.

The exclusions are explicit and worth reading: high school students, master's students and PhD students are not eligible. This is aimed squarely at people mid-degree who are deciding whether research is for them.

What is covered

For the thirty fully funded places:

• Round-trip airfare
• Accommodation, free to all selected participants
• Tuition fees
• A monthly stipend
• Cultural and social programme

Note the two tiers. Accommodation and tuition are covered for everyone selected; the airfare and stipend attach to the thirty fully funded scholarships. Check which you are being offered before committing.

Timing

The 2026 round closed on 28 April 2026 and runs from 6 July to 20 August — it is ending as this is written. The programme is annual, so the next opportunity is the 2027 intake, which on recent timing would open early in the year and close around late April.

Preparing for the next round

A research programme reads applications for evidence you can contribute:

• Coursework or projects relevant to a named research group at Sabancı
• Any lab, fieldwork or programming experience
• A specific reason for wanting this group, not simply a summer abroad

Türkiye requires visas from some nationalities; selected participants receive supporting documents, but the process needs several weeks.

Applying

Applications go to Sabancı University through the official link on this page.